Ambassador Q&A - Adam Lee
What sparked your love of the arts?
When I first started out, I was often nervous as a solo performer, but when I joined my local authority’s wind band – the North Ayrshire Schools’ Senior Concert Band – I discovered the satisfaction of playing and sharing music with other people. The nerves have never gone away, of course, but my early experiences in the band helped me to learn how to frame a performance as a sharing experience – between the musicians with you on the stage and the audience. So, by extension, this experience sparked my love of performance and sharing music with others.
What did you enjoy most about your studies at RCS?
The sheer variety, amount, and quality of music that I got to play – this gave me so many opportunities to develop my skills and push myself outside my comfort zone. Orchestral repertoire classes helped me build a solid foundation in playing as a wind section in an orchestra; I developed and honed my skills in performance classes and orchestral, chamber and contemporary projects. The highlights were my weekly lessons with my teacher, John Cushing – we covered a huge amount of repertoire in the most inspiring, exciting, and supportive ways. These are only a few examples, and the key takeaway for me was that all my experiences at RCS helped me ensure I could rise to any technical, musical or professional challenge.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
“Learn when you need to take a break”. It’s something I struggled with for years, as it can be tempting to fill every gap in your day with practice and work, especially when you’ve got a lot coming up and it’s stressing you out. I realised over time (and wish I had sooner!) that you will achieve less if you’re not in the right physical or mental state. It sounds obvious to say but can be easily forgotten when you’re faced with a lot of work and practice.
What has been your biggest learning curve?
Playing in a professional orchestra; it’s the perfect example of learning by doing. As musicians, we spend a lot of personal practice time making sure we can play in tune, in time, with character and musical freedom – to then apply this in a professional orchestral setting is another skill entirely. It sounds daunting, but when you’re in there and doing it, you quickly find out where your piece fits in the puzzle. I like to think of each wind section, or orchestra, as having a musical centre of gravity – it can take a while to find the balance but once you’re there, everything falls into place.
What was your first job after graduating?
After graduating from the RCS, I spent two years at the Royal College of Music in London, graduating in July 2023, and then I took up my position as Principal Clarinet No. 2 of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Any words of wisdom or tips for those ready to embark on their training?
Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can, don’t be afraid to push yourself outside your comfort zone as this is where you learn the most. Crucially, learn when you need to take a break!
